16:32 Fern's expression when Stark says, "If I take too long, my master will die." This is exactly her reason for hitting the rock in ep. 2. Such a powerful moment for her in regards to how she sees Stark.
Yeah, I identify with your comment. Almost as soon as the English Manga of Frieren came out, I was reading it, and I loved the story but I thought it was too slice-of-lifey for most people. But Madhouse came in and delivered one of the very best Manga to Anime adaptations I have ever seen, and then add Evan Call on your music track and we have a world wide phenomenon
On the point of this anime can change your life: A few months ago there was a guy threating people with a knife on a train in Taiwan. A young man stood up to him and protected the other passengers. When the news later asked the young man why he would put himself in danger like that, his response was "It's what Himmel the Hero would have done."
@@TrueThannyyeah your both saying the same thing the original comment said the dude stopped someone who was threatening people with a knife but he really stopped someone who was attacking people with a knife
Your reaction to the cut to Himmel as they left for the Northern Lands was priceless. This man stole our hearts with 15 minutes of screen time in the first episode and we love him for it. I knew from your other reactions that this anime would be a perfect fit for you. I’m glad you’re enjoying it as much as you are.
i find it beautiful that Frieren said she wish she knew humans more but with the flashbacks and feelings in present times, she actually knew more about those without realizing it
I think that its got something to do with her peculiar view on time where even decades lets say 4 so about 40 years (EP.2) after a flower went extinct in a region is still no time at all to her. Now lets assume that the quest began when Himmel was 18, at the end he would be around 28. Knowing someone that long (for a human) is the same as essentially knowing them for half their life. In that 10 years, the other 18 fan be fairly easily grasped through questioning and stories of the past. Now in Frieren's perspective, 10 years is a trifling matter (1/100th of her life). So even if she knew every detail of all of their lives it would probably still feel like knowing nothing at all. Even when she gives Fern the hairpin she says "I don't really know anything about you" even thought she has known her for at that point for literally half of her life, and essentially all of her childhood. TL;DR: Frieren's grasp of time is vastly different to others so, it could be a case of her not understanding how time and relationship building between shorter lived people works.
That part where they go through the gate always gets me too and I've probably watched this anime like a dozen times now. The way they edit the video and sound to match the music is just SO GOOD in this anime its insane
I always get emotional when I see this episode Eisen holding Stark's shoulder like a son and telling him stories of his journey... Even though they have the same height😂
16:16 "Why am I getting emotional again?" I spent no small amount of time wondering why Frieren kept making me tear up (which is highly unusual for me) and I think at least part of the answer lies in how authentic it is. Most series rely heavily on being emotionally manipulative, using all the tried and true methods of filmmaking in order to make us feel what they want, when they want. Frieren definitely uses those tools as well (editing, cinematography, music...) but that's *on top of* the writer having a *great* understanding of relationships and they effect they have on us, writing some really compelling scenes based on some pretty fundamental, unassailable truths. When you stack that kind of writing on top of a truly gifted group of filmmakers using the tools to invoke emotion at their disposal to accentuate, not substitute for good writing, we don't stand a chance. All your normal defences for 'keeping your cool' utterly crumble in the face of such deft storytelling. *THAT* is why Frieren is such an emotional watch and no small part as to why it's one of, if not *THE* best anime series ever produced.
You are so right about it at the end. In any other anime this episode would be just another filler episode. But Frieren does it so differently it makes you feel so much profound emotions ıt's crazy.
Frieren is a 1 of 1 anime for me and my favorite show of all time. I'm so glad you are watching and sharing, and I love how observant and reflective you are. The action sequences in this episode was great, but I love the Fern and Stark interactions. Stark gets encouraged and gains resolve from Fern, and Fern gains a normal travelling companion that she can relate to. When Stark said he wanted to accomplish the journey and bring back stories to Eisen as a repayment, my mind goes back to Fern and her wanted to be a mage before Heiter passed away - I think in this moment Fern understands Stark more. Thank you for reacting!
The way they play with the silence and the pauses too is what makes the scenes more impactful and hit you harder than with sad music constantly playing in the background. There aren't many scenes with characters yelling constantly either (well Stark does it sometimes) so the way everyone talks with soft voices makes it even more peaceful and calm. It helps you get invested in the story and pay attention to every little detail and process what they're saying too. I also started Frieren without knowing what I signed up for and it surpassed my expecations completely.
Fern just saw Stark single handedly take down a giant Dragon which terrified her. She certainly is positively impressed with him. This is just Fern teasing Stark to get a reaction. Later when they go looking for help in town, Fern talks more smack to him and he just tells her to shut up. Behind his back we see her smile which tells us what she is doing. Girls only tease boys whom they like.
I would like to point out, there is only one other man she can compare Stark too. She lived for years with Heiter in his old age, probably would have seen something helping him bath and such.
Frieren learned far more than she thought about the people she travelled with - she just hadn't processed it or contextualized it in a meaningful way for herself. She's rediscovering her past through the context of her present and it's beautiful.
My favorite episooooode !!! Don't you just love the fact that Eisen behaves like a real human, admitting he's scared even though he's fought for a long time. In pretty much any other anime you'd expect the stoic chad character to say "Nah, I'd win" but Eisen just feels real. Stark overcoming his fear just like his master did is a real emotional moment for me, especially with that music ❤
Eisen has to be my favorite of the original four just because he's so much of a dwarf while also being very "human." He's super blunt and straightforward but he's usually empathetic about how he does it. Its a very interesting take on the dwarven warrior stereotype.
Flexie, your reactions are so precious. You're like a kitten chasing sting for the first time. Also, what do you mean "Why am I getting emotional already?" Homegirl you were tearing up talking about how much you like anime before the reaction even started. 😂
Regarding your discussion at the start, Frieren seems to have a really particular interpretation of what it means to really know someone. My impression is that despite how great her memory is, and how many details she knows about her old party, since a lot about them still doesn't make a lot of sense to her she decides this means she effectively knows "nothing" about them. Or perhaps it is simply her perspective on time, believing that what she could learn about her party in ten years is "nothing" compared to what she could learn if she had a hundred years. Same with her telling Fern she knows nothing about her, despite having lived with Fern for half of Fern's life.
The monster conjures a perfect copy to what a person was via its targets memories, so even if Frieren did not really understand Himmel, the replica behaves like what Himmel would have done in the situation. What the scene shows it that Himmel prioritizes the lives of others and is 100% genuine, he is a true hero, so even if his replica is being used for nefarious purposes, he helps Frieren instead of misleading her.
I think Frieren doesn't really understand just how well she knows Himmel. She has endless memories of him but she didn't realize how precious they were until he was gone.
Well, the hot-blooded battle heads would probably drop the show in the first 2 episodes, and those who stick either are fans of the deep and profound, or Frieren turns them into one. So it stands to reason that interacting with the fandom will turn out pretty enjoyable and (comparatively) devoid of toxicity.
Very true. Very few trolls. Reminds me of the fan groups we used to form when the Lord of the Rings first came out. They were kinda like drinking parties with massive discussions on the complex world of Middle Earth. Fandom for Frieren has a lot in common with that fandom.
Eisens VA is awesome. You can tell that the voice and the sentence he says have rly substance, you can feel the sentence. And thats just awesome and let you dive more deeper in this beautiful World. When Eisen told, a dwarf that get hit by a dragon tail, fly across the whole battlefield and stand up just like nothing, that he was afraid (joke begins) that stark just giving the salt too fast (joke ends), then stark is blatantly powerful. I love the song "fear brought me this far" Or the animation when Fern sitting next to stark an talking to him oO its awesome. Being a decent bluffer > killing a dragon with one hit.
one of the reason i really like your reaction is that you try to dissect the character or anything related to the show, it shows how much you actually like the show and enjoy it. keep it up :)
This anime in particular, as well as anime that have great stories (your lie in April, orange, etc.), has this way of making you feel for the characters and their backstory. I've truly enjoyed watching this anime for the emotianl roller coaster that it is, even though it has heart wrenching themes it gives you those comedy relief moments to allow you to breathe and relax. Truly enjoying watching your experience with the story and I look forward to your reactions, I know how I felt during the time I watched the show and I am excited to see how you react to all the events that are coming up from Frieren and company!
This episode hit me so hard, I think a lot of people can relate to stark as a character. Someone who had the strength within himself the whole time but thought so little of himself to be confident.. like Fern said, "All you need is a little resolve". Great reaction and insight on your part flex
18:17 - Yep, the Himmel jumpscare transition always gets me too. Combined with the music and the context of that moment in both the present and the past, it's just one those things that is amazing in a way you just have to see for yourself and cannot be put in words
Every single name in this show is a german noun that describes the main trait of the character or region: Frieren = Cold/Frozen Fern = Distant Stark = Strong Himmel = Sky Heiter = Cheerful and so on... The only exceptions are the spells used that seem to be another language or at least a deformation of german
More like German ‘words’ not ‘nouns’ because they are adjectives, verbs and nouns (Frieren = usually/ more often a verb or adjective Fern = verb or adjective Stark = adjective Himmel = noun) Sorry for being so nit-pickity
What is one of best thing about this show is that you can watch it multiple times and you will get same feelings. At least I do. I like to watch it with you, you have lovely emotions and I feel same in way how you feel about show. No matter that I already saw it many times while watching other reactions. I think what makes also this show special is soundtrack composer Evan Call. That OST is just so wonderful and emotional. If you like Frieren I think that you are ready for Violet Evergarden (ost by same composer as frieren). I highly recommend it to you, I would love to watch it with you
17:46 Poor Freiren did not want to pass the checkpoint, she wanted to spend some time to read her books... LOL >_< Flexie, I just wanted to say that listening to your voice, the way you speak, is very comforting.
What you have in Stark are two of my favorite story tropes, the hero who fights in spite of his fear and the "You are better than you think you are" trope. Stark is such a great contrast to the heroes who never doubt their purpose.
The monster that draws from memories is an interesting one. It said "Shoot Me" using Himmels face not because she imagined Himmel having said that necessarily. But because She remembered Himmel as so selfless, so heroic, so strong in spirit that is subverted the monsters true purpose. This demon is supposed to use the memories to trick its victims but Even in memory. Himmel is still incorruptible, a Hero, and could never be used to such ends. "shoot me" because memory Himmel knows the best outcome for Frieren is with the Monsters Death.
This show is like Zoltraak - its a masterpiece from which everyone will learn and every director or script writer will study, so one day it will be just referenced as timeless classic surpassed by newer, better written shows. Meanwhile I will cherish the fact I witnessed it.
I’ve read that warriors like Eisen and Stark are so much more powerful than ordinary, highly trained soldiers and fighters basically because like Fern and Frieren, they too have a massive amount of mana, it’s just channeled naturally into their bodies vs. something they can use for spells. 🤔
I have the OST pretty much on constant play nowadays and it won't be changing any time soon. As an aside the OST's for Steins;Gate, Re:Zero and 86 are amazing as well. Highest recommendation for any of them
This anime is much deeper than it seems on the surface. The characters and their motivations is just one part of it. I find it incredible how Frieren, who regretted not getting to know Himmel better, is now getting to know him while reminiscing of her 10 year adventure. It feels like she actually knew Himmel incredibly well, she's just never realized it and is now understanding him. Beautiful story telling
there was a incidend in Singapore i think it was, or somewhere in south east asia. where a young girl was pushed around and a young man came to help her and after that the just said: that was what Himmel the Hero would do.
Stark is from a warrior village in the Klee region, and mostly they are all super-human in strength, movement, and the ability to take serious battle damage. And he was trained by Eisen , a dwarf who is generally recognized to be enormously strong.
As all things in Frieren, it's about time! The talk about "size" continues in the bar scene where there is an extensive discussion about the "size" of Berry Sundae's. How they were so much bigger when I was younger, and then the bar keep remarks about time. This was a gacha for me. I remember as a little boy, going to DIsneyland in Anaheim, and being in awe of the size of Cinderella Castle. Recently I took my grandchildren there, and I was amazed at how small the castle really is. The discussion of "size' is not about a physical measurement, but rather about the passage of time.
I like the way this ep show us the different perspective between Stark and Frieren. Since the begining, Stark always look at his master "Eisen" as a big role model. The great, brave warrior, full of courage and have no fear, which is good point. But in the other hand, it can make Stark feel lack of confidence and think that if he still fear of something, he still far from his master. But for Frieren is different. Since Frieren is Eisen's companion in journey and has fight against the demon king together. Frieren has already seen every moment of her friend, Eisen, both brave part and fear part. So when she told Stark the he has shaken just the same way with his master was. So it gave him another perspective, especially from the person who same level with his master. Turns out that her message is one of the important key for Stark to grow up as a confident warrior.
The whole concept of this show reminds me a lot of "The Road Goes Ever On", a poem/song by Tolkien. It's given to us in sections, but this is my favorite way of organizing them. The Road goes ever on and on, Down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, And I must follow, if I can, Pursuing it with eager feet, Until it joins some larger way Where many paths and errands meet. And whither then? I cannot say. Roads go ever ever on, Over rock and under tree, By caves where never sun has shone, By streams that never find the sea; Over snow by winter sown, And through the merry flowers of June, Over grass and over stone, And under mountains in the moon. Roads go ever ever on Under cloud and under star, Yet feet that wandering have gone Turn at last to home afar. Eyes that fire and sword have seen And horror in the halls of stone Look at last on meadows green And trees and hills they long have known. The Road goes ever on and on Out from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, Let others follow it who can! Let them a journey new begin, But I at last with weary feet Will turn towards the lighted inn, My evening-rest and sleep to meet.
You got the Himmel "shoot me" scene completely wrong. The monster conjures a perfect copy to what a person was via its targets memories, so even if Frieren did not really understand Himmel, the replica behaves like what Himmel would have done in the situation. What the scene shows it that Himmel prioritizes the lives of others and is 100% genuine, he is a true hero, so even if his replica is being used for nefarious purposes, he helps Frieren instead of misleading her.
The fake Himmel is a mirror image of Himmel in Frieren. Naturally he would say "shoot me" in that case. I strongly recommend you to try Saga Of Tanya The Evil (Youjo Senki). It is a saga of reincarnated white collar as a little girl in parallel European world before the WW2, and battles as a mage commander. The story sounds like another reincarnation anime but the theme is very deep and heavy like reading Albert Camus. It is about humanbeings have to deal with full of absurdities to live with. One has to deal with an absurdity when he does something irrational or something against rule, or when he accept something irrational or intolerable fate. They put all the responsibility to God, take it as "God's will". It is about one with reason battling against God or irrationalness of mankind. The drawing and animation is just highest quality. I also recommend you to try Bocchi The Rock. It is a light story about a girl with communication difficulty with no friends solving her problem through playing guitar in a band. The story is light and very funny and up lifting. I know you'll cry again. Excuse my mistakes please, because English is not my native tongue.
One problem with translating Japanese is that it is very difficult to give the exact meaning of a word, every time Frieren says that Himell was “idiot” it was not because she thought he was but because she saw him getting excited like a child about things that for her were no big deal, it would have been better if they had used the word “dummy” which is tender and that is Frieren's intention.
Well maybe it is cultural thing but I always understood the meaning behind her words even if it was translated as "idiot". And I know people who would use this word in similiar way.
I kind of figured she meant it in that way, like how you might say your friend is a goofball without really meaning something insulting. But I think there's something else going on there too. Frieren seems guarded and I don't think she always says what she means at all. Just like she learned to hide her manna and abilities, she also seems to hide her true feelings. It's a coping or defense mechanism.
Flexie, give Sengoku Youko a try. It is a slow starter but will slowly grow on you. OST is also by Evan Call who is behind Freiren's awesome soundtracks. Story is also about a journey of discovery. One of a boy who wants to become a demon, and one of a demon who wants to become a human. Period is set in ancient Japan.
Frieren is cold and distant; Heiter is corrupted by vices; Eisen is fearful; Himmel is vain. All of these things are fundamentally true in one way or another. Frieren (the Series) doesn’t shy away from characters having flaws. Himmel really did waste days on end trying to perfect poses for his statues; imagine how annoying that must have been as a party member. He was even vain about his appearance in his final days! Heiter drank into his eighties or nineties and only stopped for Fern; Eisen was cowardly to the point that he struck his only disciple out of reflexive fear. Frieren (the character) sees these flaws and cherishes them now because she didn’t have the emotional capacity to cherish them at the time. I don’t think it’s a “front” or a cover for her real emotions; she just remembers them accurately and now is fonder for them in their absence, in the same way you miss how your loved ones annoy you when they’re not with you.
"Frieren is cold and distant; Heiter is corrupted by vices; Eisen is fearful; Himmel is vain. All of these things are fundamentally true in one way or another." Everyone is flawed and no one is perfect, and yet, none of those things really define the characters at all. Every time I hear someone say one of those things like Frieren is cold and distant, I almost reflexively want to say, is she really though? Frieren spent a long time completely alone. She hides her manna and also clearly hides her true feelings. Sometimes she pretends not to care and sometimes she's just awkward and doesn't understand others because of childhood trauma and isolation. She cries and shows real emotion at times, and then often says things that sound a lot like something you would say and not really mean. She collects "meaningless," spells that show she was always thoughtful of her companions. Does anyone think of pride and vanity when they think of Himmel? No, because his good qualities are so strong that they make you forget any negatives about the man. A lot of people also brag to cover insecurities. I wonder if Himmel wasn't always just doing that. Eisen is scared and shaking, but I don't think I would ever call him a coward since he pushes through it and faces dangers anyway. In reality, that's actually bravery. Heiter struggles with alcohol, and yet is a great priest when it comes to knowledge, use of magic and priestly duties. In the end, he still stays faithful to his beliefs, saves a war orphan, clearly loves her and he finally stops drinking. Flaws are a normal part of the human condition. There are reasons for most of their flaws and none of them completely succumb to them so that those flaws end up as their main trait. All of them were unquestionably real heroes.
in German, Frieren means "Freezing/Cold", Fern means "Distant", Heiter means "Drunk/Sunny." We see Frieren is often cold in the winter and in the morning, Fern could not reach the distance to the rock in her first episodes and distances herself from Stark in this episode, Heiter is always drinking and often has sunshine rays on him. Himmel means sky and you can see his hair is the same shade of blue as the sky that Frieren often looks up toward, and Himmel also means Heaven which is where the party is trying to get to.
"did that just happen?" Fern is a teenager who may have a small and reasonable crush on this kid who just killed a dragon in front of her, of course that just happened.
Elves process everything slower, especially their feelings, because they are almost immortal. They are in no rush thus understanding their own feelings take time. Frieren remembers a lot of her 10 years journey, but she just starts understanding those memories thanks to her new relation to Fern and Stark. The new context helps her appreciate time differently. It is no coincidence that the grand time skips are no longer presented since Frieren took under her wing Fern. Yes, there was a big one in episode 2 but since then time jumps of 10-20 years are no longer presented. It is because Frieren understanding now time differently as she cares about someone.
I have noticed that as you said the skips have DRASTICALLY gotten smaller after taking fern on as an apprentice proper. In the first episode and part of the second we were experiencing time as an elf not as a human. Then when Fern is introduced instead of 50yrs here, 20yrs there the skips have been more reasonably "human" 6mo here, 3mo there etc. Frieren is living on a more human time scale now with the addition of Fern (and now Stark), and I think that here living more "in the moment" is a big part of why she is able to reflect so much on her old party and maybe start to realize that she did in fact know them better than she believed.
Stark gonna do so so many things that will make you love him even more what I love about this show is that every character has their own development and sorry English is not my first language 😅 haha but I think "development" is the right word
We're not even to the good stuff yet, Flexie. The writing is masterful...but it gets better. The next arc is a masterclass...it still gives me chills. Keep the tissues close. There are Frieren and Fern plushies available out there.
About the amazing music... Evan Call was able to rescore and otherwise adjust the music he composed for this anime to better match the animation. He said in an interview that he wanted the music to act like a narrator. I think he pretty much achieved this.
If she loves characters and their breakdowns and developments, she'd LOVE Vinland Saga. I'm new to her channel so has she seen that yet or maybe plans to? If not I HIGHLY suggest it it's so good lol
Would LOVE to start that soon!!! So happy to hear the recommendation. Looking forward to starting it :) It's at the top of my long list x also welcome to the community!
your reaction is a "profoundly gorgeous expierence" joy to watch, especially with the knowledge what is going to come :D (to quote it with your words , sry.P)
12:12 - Yeah, that just happen. Fern didn't waste time to use that spell in an interesting way lol In this episode we saw the quality level of the animation in the fight sequences and in future episodes is going to be more epic. Madhouse (the studio who animated the show) really created a masterpiece that is a jewel to our eyes.
Tbf fern probs comparing starks wee to Heiters when she was caring for him when he was bedridden but like Stark says later in the ep things seemed bigger when they were younger children 😆
IMO, the illusion monster copies the memories of the dead so well that it inadvertently created a Himmel that was self aware and wanted Frieren to be safe so it said to "shoot me". Frieren just wanted to just kill time in the city, which is hilarious. The show never stops with pulling at your heartstrings. The way they just drop the hero's party in to the scene is great for that. Stark and Eisen were probably sparing and they may have amped it up a bit and that's when Eisen hit him on reflex.
@@artboymoy regarding hitting Stark, the scene in the manga shows a flashback from just before the hit. There is no dialog but it looks like Eisen and Stark were arguing about something (probably Stark's progress), hence Eisen telling Frieren "we parted in anger". Stark raised his fist at Eisen during the argument, and that was when Eisen hit him on reflex.
Stark: It seems to small now. Barkeeper: Its seems that way because you're all grown up now Narrator: It was in fact inflation that reduced the portion
16:32 Fern's expression when Stark says, "If I take too long, my master will die."
This is exactly her reason for hitting the rock in ep. 2.
Such a powerful moment for her in regards to how she sees Stark.
Even people who had already read the manga didn't realize how impactful this anime would be. The timing, voice acting, and music just adds so much.
Yeah, I identify with your comment. Almost as soon as the English Manga of Frieren came out, I was reading it, and I loved the story but I thought it was too slice-of-lifey for most people. But Madhouse came in and delivered one of the very best Manga to Anime adaptations I have ever seen, and then add Evan Call on your music track and we have a world wide phenomenon
On the point of this anime can change your life:
A few months ago there was a guy threating people with a knife on a train in Taiwan. A young man stood up to him and protected the other passengers. When the news later asked the young man why he would put himself in danger like that, his response was "It's what Himmel the Hero would have done."
The guy was actually *attacking* people. The guy who stopped it actually is even more heroic
@@Ozai75 You're going to need to cite a source for that claim, as everything out there says otherwise.
@@TrueThanny Might be mistaken, but I was pretty sure that he was in the middle of attacking people.
@@Ozai75 It's a quote from one of the guys who _stopped_ the attack.
@@TrueThannyyeah your both saying the same thing the original comment said the dude stopped someone who was threatening people with a knife but he really stopped someone who was attacking people with a knife
Your reaction to the cut to Himmel as they left for the Northern Lands was priceless.
This man stole our hearts with 15 minutes of screen time in the first episode and we love him for it.
I knew from your other reactions that this anime would be a perfect fit for you. I’m glad you’re enjoying it as much as you are.
i find it beautiful that Frieren said she wish she knew humans more but with the flashbacks and feelings in present times, she actually knew more about those without realizing it
I think that its got something to do with her peculiar view on time where even decades lets say 4 so about 40 years (EP.2) after a flower went extinct in a region is still no time at all to her. Now lets assume that the quest began when Himmel was 18, at the end he would be around 28. Knowing someone that long (for a human) is the same as essentially knowing them for half their life. In that 10 years, the other 18 fan be fairly easily grasped through questioning and stories of the past. Now in Frieren's perspective, 10 years is a trifling matter (1/100th of her life). So even if she knew every detail of all of their lives it would probably still feel like knowing nothing at all. Even when she gives Fern the hairpin she says "I don't really know anything about you" even thought she has known her for at that point for literally half of her life, and essentially all of her childhood.
TL;DR: Frieren's grasp of time is vastly different to others so, it could be a case of her not understanding how time and relationship building between shorter lived people works.
this show is using pavlovian conditioning against us. You see Himmel, the tears start.
Himmel is that guy
Props for knowing what Pavlovian conditioning is . One of my people
Had to research that. And yes it looks like it does
That part where they go through the gate always gets me too and I've probably watched this anime like a dozen times now. The way they edit the video and sound to match the music is just SO GOOD in this anime its insane
I always get emotional when I see this episode Eisen holding Stark's shoulder like a son and telling him stories of his journey...
Even though they have the same height😂
16:16 "Why am I getting emotional again?" I spent no small amount of time wondering why Frieren kept making me tear up (which is highly unusual for me) and I think at least part of the answer lies in how authentic it is. Most series rely heavily on being emotionally manipulative, using all the tried and true methods of filmmaking in order to make us feel what they want, when they want. Frieren definitely uses those tools as well (editing, cinematography, music...) but that's *on top of* the writer having a *great* understanding of relationships and they effect they have on us, writing some really compelling scenes based on some pretty fundamental, unassailable truths.
When you stack that kind of writing on top of a truly gifted group of filmmakers using the tools to invoke emotion at their disposal to accentuate, not substitute for good writing, we don't stand a chance. All your normal defences for 'keeping your cool' utterly crumble in the face of such deft storytelling. *THAT* is why Frieren is such an emotional watch and no small part as to why it's one of, if not *THE* best anime series ever produced.
You are so right about it at the end. In any other anime this episode would be just another filler episode. But Frieren does it so differently it makes you feel so much profound emotions ıt's crazy.
Stark still being so timid after one shot'ing a dragon. "I'm good at bluffing" LOL
Frieren is a 1 of 1 anime for me and my favorite show of all time. I'm so glad you are watching and sharing, and I love how observant and reflective you are. The action sequences in this episode was great, but I love the Fern and Stark interactions. Stark gets encouraged and gains resolve from Fern, and Fern gains a normal travelling companion that she can relate to. When Stark said he wanted to accomplish the journey and bring back stories to Eisen as a repayment, my mind goes back to Fern and her wanted to be a mage before Heiter passed away - I think in this moment Fern understands Stark more. Thank you for reacting!
The way they play with the silence and the pauses too is what makes the scenes more impactful and hit you harder than with sad music constantly playing in the background. There aren't many scenes with characters yelling constantly either (well Stark does it sometimes) so the way everyone talks with soft voices makes it even more peaceful and calm. It helps you get invested in the story and pay attention to every little detail and process what they're saying too. I also started Frieren without knowing what I signed up for and it surpassed my expecations completely.
This is Evan Call pulling your heart strings with his godlike music!
Fern violating Stark with that “so small” and him immediately understanding what she means. She has no chill😂😂😂😂
Huh, i took it as Stark being clueless about it, his response makes it feel like he‘s talking about his physical height😅could be wrong tho
Fern just saw Stark single handedly take down a giant Dragon which terrified her. She certainly is positively impressed with him. This is just Fern teasing Stark to get a reaction. Later when they go looking for help in town, Fern talks more smack to him and he just tells her to shut up. Behind his back we see her smile which tells us what she is doing. Girls only tease boys whom they like.
I would like to point out, there is only one other man she can compare Stark too. She lived for years with Heiter in his old age, probably would have seen something helping him bath and such.
@Jackex The amount of thought you put into a young girl seeing an old man naked is concerning.....
I mean... it can go from small to big. Fern must not know that, Stark does, that's why he responded that way.
Frieren learned far more than she thought about the people she travelled with - she just hadn't processed it or contextualized it in a meaningful way for herself. She's rediscovering her past through the context of her present and it's beautiful.
My favorite episooooode !!! Don't you just love the fact that Eisen behaves like a real human, admitting he's scared even though he's fought for a long time. In pretty much any other anime you'd expect the stoic chad character to say "Nah, I'd win" but Eisen just feels real. Stark overcoming his fear just like his master did is a real emotional moment for me, especially with that music ❤
Eisen has to be my favorite of the original four just because he's so much of a dwarf while also being very "human." He's super blunt and straightforward but he's usually empathetic about how he does it. Its a very interesting take on the dwarven warrior stereotype.
@@Rannos22 Really well said ! We love our little warrior.
It's all good. Every episode is good....but seriously, EP10 exists. Just saying.
@@dawnfallon6812 It does exist 👍 Like you said, it's all good.
@@dawnfallon6812 there are many amazing episodes in frieren, that can be anyone's favorite, ep 25 "A Fatal Vulnerability" being my favorite
Flexie, your reactions are so precious. You're like a kitten chasing sting for the first time.
Also, what do you mean "Why am I getting emotional already?" Homegirl you were tearing up talking about how much you like anime before the reaction even started. 😂
This is an interesting bit about how truly powerful Frieren is. She sees a dragon as a training aid for apprentices.
Regarding your discussion at the start, Frieren seems to have a really particular interpretation of what it means to really know someone. My impression is that despite how great her memory is, and how many details she knows about her old party, since a lot about them still doesn't make a lot of sense to her she decides this means she effectively knows "nothing" about them.
Or perhaps it is simply her perspective on time, believing that what she could learn about her party in ten years is "nothing" compared to what she could learn if she had a hundred years. Same with her telling Fern she knows nothing about her, despite having lived with Fern for half of Fern's life.
The monster conjures a perfect copy to what a person was via its targets memories, so even if Frieren did not really understand Himmel, the replica behaves like what Himmel would have done in the situation. What the scene shows it that Himmel prioritizes the lives of others and is 100% genuine, he is a true hero, so even if his replica is being used for nefarious purposes, he helps Frieren instead of misleading her.
I think Frieren doesn't really understand just how well she knows Himmel. She has endless memories of him but she didn't realize how precious they were until he was gone.
Spy×Family Anya and Frieren They have the same Voice actor 😊
0:47 the frieren community/fandom is surprisingly nice and fun to interact with. Refreshing.
Well, the hot-blooded battle heads would probably drop the show in the first 2 episodes, and those who stick either are fans of the deep and profound, or Frieren turns them into one. So it stands to reason that interacting with the fandom will turn out pretty enjoyable and (comparatively) devoid of toxicity.
Yes becuz slice of life enjoyers can't be toxic
@@adityachakrabarti3164 most healthy community i have seen in years
Very true. Very few trolls. Reminds me of the fan groups we used to form when the Lord of the Rings first came out. They were kinda like drinking parties with massive discussions on the complex world of Middle Earth. Fandom for Frieren has a lot in common with that fandom.
It's what the hero Himmel would have wanted.
Thanks for being so genuine and heartfelt, Flexie! ♥️♥️ Having such an honest vulnerability when watching this show is a true blessing!!
Frieren plushy should be a thing!!!! Need it for when season 2 eventually comes out!
This show and your reactions to it get better and better.
The story from here on will have you traveling as a member of the party. Please enjoy those experiences.
The Jumbo Berry Special, kinda like Mimics, is a recurring thing in some episodes. The fandom loves both of them.
Inflation is real
fern checked the material at the first opportunity
Eisens VA is awesome. You can tell that the voice and the sentence he says have rly substance, you can feel the sentence. And thats just awesome and let you dive more deeper in this beautiful World. When Eisen told, a dwarf that get hit by a dragon tail, fly across the whole battlefield and stand up just like nothing, that he was afraid (joke begins) that stark just giving the salt too fast (joke ends), then stark is blatantly powerful. I love the song "fear brought me this far" Or the animation when Fern sitting next to stark an talking to him oO its awesome. Being a decent bluffer > killing a dragon with one hit.
one of the reason i really like your reaction is that you try to dissect the character or anything related to the show, it shows how much you actually like the show and enjoy it. keep it up :)
This anime in particular, as well as anime that have great stories (your lie in April, orange, etc.), has this way of making you feel for the characters and their backstory.
I've truly enjoyed watching this anime for the emotianl roller coaster that it is, even though it has heart wrenching themes it gives you those comedy relief moments to allow you to breathe and relax.
Truly enjoying watching your experience with the story and I look forward to your reactions, I know how I felt during the time I watched the show and I am excited to see how you react to all the events that are coming up from Frieren and company!
30 seconds of action animation and its best animation you may watch all year.
The animation team understood the assignment.
This episode hit me so hard, I think a lot of people can relate to stark as a character. Someone who had the strength within himself the whole time but thought so little of himself to be confident.. like Fern said, "All you need is a little resolve". Great reaction and insight on your part flex
eisen which mean iron ,can also relate to how ,in mythologies , Dwarves are great blacksmith with their way of work on Iron.
18:17 - Yep, the Himmel jumpscare transition always gets me too. Combined with the music and the context of that moment in both the present and the past, it's just one those things that is amazing in a way you just have to see for yourself and cannot be put in words
Don't worry Stark, Fern doesn't know how a man's "tool" works.
Here's hoping that his "tool" isn't already showing its "maximum utility" so to speak...
From next episode the hype moments are coming 🔥
Finally its my boy's time
Every single name in this show is a german noun that describes the main trait of the character or region:
Frieren = Cold/Frozen
Fern = Distant
Stark = Strong
Himmel = Sky
Heiter = Cheerful
and so on...
The only exceptions are the spells used that seem to be another language or at least a deformation of german
Himmel can be heaven or sky in german
More like German ‘words’ not ‘nouns’ because they are adjectives, verbs and nouns
(Frieren = usually/ more often a verb or adjective
Fern = verb or adjective
Stark = adjective
Himmel = noun)
Sorry for being so nit-pickity
Eisen means iron.
Note that german has only one word for sky/heaven, unlike english.
What is one of best thing about this show is that you can watch it multiple times and you will get same feelings. At least I do. I like to watch it with you, you have lovely emotions and I feel same in way how you feel about show. No matter that I already saw it many times while watching other reactions. I think what makes also this show special is soundtrack composer Evan Call. That OST is just so wonderful and emotional. If you like Frieren I think that you are ready for Violet Evergarden (ost by same composer as frieren). I highly recommend it to you, I would love to watch it with you
That transition at the end from Frierens face to Himmel 'swas really well done and your reaction was perfect. 😊
17:46 Poor Freiren did not want to pass the checkpoint, she wanted to spend some time to read her books... LOL >_<
Flexie, I just wanted to say that listening to your voice, the way you speak, is very comforting.
Ooh thank you 🥹💓
What you have in Stark are two of my favorite story tropes, the hero who fights in spite of his fear and the "You are better than you think you are" trope. Stark is such a great contrast to the heroes who never doubt their purpose.
The scene transition between Frieren present and Himmel past was indeed pretty perfect.
Ma'h boy Stark is Team Blood, ok? A sword sometimes doesn't look as big inside its sheath 😭😭😭🤣🤣🤣🤣
Profound is an excellent way to describe this series.
Really love watching you react to this show. comment for the algorithm!
The monster that draws from memories is an interesting one. It said "Shoot Me" using Himmels face not because she imagined Himmel having said that necessarily. But because She remembered Himmel as so selfless, so heroic, so strong in spirit that is subverted the monsters true purpose. This demon is supposed to use the memories to trick its victims but Even in memory. Himmel is still incorruptible, a Hero, and could never be used to such ends. "shoot me" because memory Himmel knows the best outcome for Frieren is with the Monsters Death.
15:56 I like how Eisen was holding Stark so he wont accidentally fall. I love little detail like these.
This show is like Zoltraak - its a masterpiece from which everyone will learn and every director or script writer will study, so one day it will be just referenced as timeless classic surpassed by newer, better written shows. Meanwhile I will cherish the fact I witnessed it.
Look at Stark man, so inspirational 🐐🔥
I’ve read that warriors like Eisen and Stark are so much more powerful than ordinary, highly trained soldiers and fighters basically because like Fern and Frieren, they too have a massive amount of mana, it’s just channeled naturally into their bodies vs. something they can use for spells. 🤔
The OST’s “Fear brought me this far”(in this episode) and “Zoltraak” are my favorite
I have the OST pretty much on constant play nowadays and it won't be changing any time soon. As an aside the OST's for Steins;Gate, Re:Zero and 86 are amazing as well. Highest recommendation for any of them
This anime is much deeper than it seems on the surface. The characters and their motivations is just one part of it. I find it incredible how Frieren, who regretted not getting to know Himmel better, is now getting to know him while reminiscing of her 10 year adventure. It feels like she actually knew Himmel incredibly well, she's just never realized it and is now understanding him. Beautiful story telling
Exactly 💯
there was a incidend in Singapore i think it was, or somewhere in south east asia. where a young girl was pushed around and a young man came to help her and after that the just said: that was what Himmel the Hero would do.
It happened in Taiwan.
It is a country with close ties to Japan.
Bravery ia not absent of fear , Bravery is when the fear is there and you able to overcome it !
Thank you for sharing 😊
Stark is from a warrior village in the Klee region, and mostly they are all super-human in strength, movement, and the ability to take serious battle damage. And he was trained by Eisen , a dwarf who is generally recognized to be enormously strong.
As all things in Frieren, it's about time! The talk about "size" continues in the bar scene where there is an extensive discussion about the "size" of Berry Sundae's. How they were so much bigger when I was younger, and then the bar keep remarks about time. This was a gacha for me. I remember as a little boy, going to DIsneyland in Anaheim, and being in awe of the size of Cinderella Castle. Recently I took my grandchildren there, and I was amazed at how small the castle really is. The discussion of "size' is not about a physical measurement, but rather about the passage of time.
I like the way this ep show us the different perspective between Stark and Frieren.
Since the begining, Stark always look at his master "Eisen" as a big role model. The great, brave warrior, full of courage and have no fear, which is good point. But in the other hand, it can make Stark feel lack of confidence and think that if he still fear of something, he still far from his master.
But for Frieren is different. Since Frieren is Eisen's companion in journey and has fight against the demon king together. Frieren has already seen every moment of her friend, Eisen, both brave part and fear part.
So when she told Stark the he has shaken just the same way with his master was. So it gave him another perspective, especially from the person who same level with his master. Turns out that her message is one of the important key for Stark to grow up as a confident warrior.
i also can’t understand why I love Stark so much lol
The whole concept of this show reminds me a lot of "The Road Goes Ever On", a poem/song by Tolkien. It's given to us in sections, but this is my favorite way of organizing them.
The Road goes ever on and on,
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.
Roads go ever ever on,
Over rock and under tree,
By caves where never sun has shone,
By streams that never find the sea;
Over snow by winter sown,
And through the merry flowers of June,
Over grass and over stone,
And under mountains in the moon.
Roads go ever ever on
Under cloud and under star,
Yet feet that wandering have gone
Turn at last to home afar.
Eyes that fire and sword have seen
And horror in the halls of stone
Look at last on meadows green
And trees and hills they long have known.
The Road goes ever on and on
Out from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
Let others follow it who can!
Let them a journey new begin,
But I at last with weary feet
Will turn towards the lighted inn,
My evening-rest and sleep to meet.
You got the Himmel "shoot me" scene completely wrong. The monster conjures a perfect copy to what a person was via its targets memories, so even if Frieren did not really understand Himmel, the replica behaves like what Himmel would have done in the situation. What the scene shows it that Himmel prioritizes the lives of others and is 100% genuine, he is a true hero, so even if his replica is being used for nefarious purposes, he helps Frieren instead of misleading her.
9:10 Nice smile 😁😁 (and Flexie said "Stark" was the one matching the dragon! 😉😉)
The fake Himmel is a mirror image of Himmel in Frieren. Naturally he would say "shoot me" in that case. I strongly recommend you to try Saga Of Tanya The Evil (Youjo Senki). It is a saga of reincarnated white collar as a little girl in parallel European world before the WW2, and battles as a mage commander. The story sounds like another reincarnation anime but the theme is very deep and heavy like reading Albert Camus. It is about humanbeings have to deal with full of absurdities to live with. One has to deal with an absurdity when he does something irrational or something against rule, or when he accept something irrational or intolerable fate. They put all the responsibility to God, take it as "God's will". It is about one with reason battling against God or irrationalness of mankind. The drawing and animation is just highest quality. I also recommend you to try Bocchi The Rock. It is a light story about a girl with communication difficulty with no friends solving her problem through playing guitar in a band. The story is light and very funny and up lifting. I know you'll cry again. Excuse my mistakes please, because English is not my native tongue.
You definetly have to watch Ranking of Kings, too. You'll love it
One problem with translating Japanese is that it is very difficult to give the exact meaning of a word, every time Frieren says that Himell was “idiot” it was not because she thought he was but because she saw him getting excited like a child about things that for her were no big deal, it would have been better if they had used the word “dummy” which is tender and that is Frieren's intention.
Well maybe it is cultural thing but I always understood the meaning behind her words even if it was translated as "idiot". And I know people who would use this word in similiar way.
I kind of figured she meant it in that way, like how you might say your friend is a goofball without really meaning something insulting. But I think there's something else going on there too. Frieren seems guarded and I don't think she always says what she means at all. Just like she learned to hide her manna and abilities, she also seems to hide her true feelings. It's a coping or defense mechanism.
You might missed why frieren always look up the sky. Well the name himmel means "sky"😊
Flexie, give Sengoku Youko a try. It is a slow starter but will slowly grow on you. OST is also by Evan Call who is behind Freiren's awesome soundtracks. Story is also about a journey of discovery. One of a boy who wants to become a demon, and one of a demon who wants to become a human. Period is set in ancient Japan.
Frieren is cold and distant; Heiter is corrupted by vices; Eisen is fearful; Himmel is vain. All of these things are fundamentally true in one way or another.
Frieren (the Series) doesn’t shy away from characters having flaws. Himmel really did waste days on end trying to perfect poses for his statues; imagine how annoying that must have been as a party member. He was even vain about his appearance in his final days! Heiter drank into his eighties or nineties and only stopped for Fern; Eisen was cowardly to the point that he struck his only disciple out of reflexive fear.
Frieren (the character) sees these flaws and cherishes them now because she didn’t have the emotional capacity to cherish them at the time. I don’t think it’s a “front” or a cover for her real emotions; she just remembers them accurately and now is fonder for them in their absence, in the same way you miss how your loved ones annoy you when they’re not with you.
"Frieren is cold and distant; Heiter is corrupted by vices; Eisen is fearful; Himmel is vain. All of these things are fundamentally true in one way or another."
Everyone is flawed and no one is perfect, and yet, none of those things really define the characters at all. Every time I hear someone say one of those things like Frieren is cold and distant, I almost reflexively want to say, is she really though? Frieren spent a long time completely alone. She hides her manna and also clearly hides her true feelings. Sometimes she pretends not to care and sometimes she's just awkward and doesn't understand others because of childhood trauma and isolation. She cries and shows real emotion at times, and then often says things that sound a lot like something you would say and not really mean. She collects "meaningless," spells that show she was always thoughtful of her companions.
Does anyone think of pride and vanity when they think of Himmel? No, because his good qualities are so strong that they make you forget any negatives about the man. A lot of people also brag to cover insecurities. I wonder if Himmel wasn't always just doing that. Eisen is scared and shaking, but I don't think I would ever call him a coward since he pushes through it and faces dangers anyway. In reality, that's actually bravery. Heiter struggles with alcohol, and yet is a great priest when it comes to knowledge, use of magic and priestly duties. In the end, he still stays faithful to his beliefs, saves a war orphan, clearly loves her and he finally stops drinking.
Flaws are a normal part of the human condition. There are reasons for most of their flaws and none of them completely succumb to them so that those flaws end up as their main trait. All of them were unquestionably real heroes.
in German, Frieren means "Freezing/Cold", Fern means "Distant", Heiter means "Drunk/Sunny." We see Frieren is often cold in the winter and in the morning, Fern could not reach the distance to the rock in her first episodes and distances herself from Stark in this episode, Heiter is always drinking and often has sunshine rays on him. Himmel means sky and you can see his hair is the same shade of blue as the sky that Frieren often looks up toward, and Himmel also means Heaven which is where the party is trying to get to.
The first 10 episodes are perfection.
"did that just happen?" Fern is a teenager who may have a small and reasonable crush on this kid who just killed a dragon in front of her, of course that just happened.
Elves process everything slower, especially their feelings, because they are almost immortal. They are in no rush thus understanding their own feelings take time. Frieren remembers a lot of her 10 years journey, but she just starts understanding those memories thanks to her new relation to Fern and Stark. The new context helps her appreciate time differently.
It is no coincidence that the grand time skips are no longer presented since Frieren took under her wing Fern. Yes, there was a big one in episode 2 but since then time jumps of 10-20 years are no longer presented. It is because Frieren understanding now time differently as she cares about someone.
I have noticed that as you said the skips have DRASTICALLY gotten smaller after taking fern on as an apprentice proper. In the first episode and part of the second we were experiencing time as an elf not as a human. Then when Fern is introduced instead of 50yrs here, 20yrs there the skips have been more reasonably "human" 6mo here, 3mo there etc. Frieren is living on a more human time scale now with the addition of Fern (and now Stark), and I think that here living more "in the moment" is a big part of why she is able to reflect so much on her old party and maybe start to realize that she did in fact know them better than she believed.
Stark gonna do so so many things that will make you love him even more what I love about this show is that every character has their own development and sorry English is not my first language 😅 haha but I think "development" is the right word
It is. Your English was perfect here.
I will say it now, but I will say it again in a future episode. Eisen has the best lines!
We're not even to the good stuff yet, Flexie. The writing is masterful...but it gets better. The next arc is a masterclass...it still gives me chills.
Keep the tissues close. There are Frieren and Fern plushies available out there.
Im loving these reactions literally my reaction to every ep this show is sooo good!❤🩹
About the amazing music... Evan Call was able to rescore and otherwise adjust the music he composed for this anime to better match the animation. He said in an interview that he wanted the music to act like a narrator. I think he pretty much achieved this.
Stark's fight actually 30s in the episode if i'm not wrong 😂
If she loves characters and their breakdowns and developments, she'd LOVE Vinland Saga. I'm new to her channel so has she seen that yet or maybe plans to? If not I HIGHLY suggest it it's so good lol
Would LOVE to start that soon!!! So happy to hear the recommendation. Looking forward to starting it :) It's at the top of my long list x also welcome to the community!
stark my goat🐐
your reaction is a "profoundly gorgeous expierence" joy to watch, especially with the knowledge what is going to come :D (to quote it with your words , sry.P)
Hi, 28 year old man- I mean Bear- here. I cried every single episode. This show is just a masterpiece
As music starts, from its manicure to its defeat, dragon vs stark : 30 seconds animation indeed
Cant wait til you see episode 9 and 10!
12:12 - Yeah, that just happen. Fern didn't waste time to use that spell in an interesting way lol
In this episode we saw the quality level of the animation in the fight sequences and in future episodes is going to be more epic. Madhouse (the studio who animated the show) really created a masterpiece that is a jewel to our eyes.
Tbf fern probs comparing starks wee to Heiters when she was caring for him when he was bedridden but like Stark says later in the ep things seemed bigger when they were younger children 😆
IMO, the illusion monster copies the memories of the dead so well that it inadvertently created a Himmel that was self aware and wanted Frieren to be safe so it said to "shoot me". Frieren just wanted to just kill time in the city, which is hilarious. The show never stops with pulling at your heartstrings. The way they just drop the hero's party in to the scene is great for that. Stark and Eisen were probably sparing and they may have amped it up a bit and that's when Eisen hit him on reflex.
@@artboymoy regarding hitting Stark, the scene in the manga shows a flashback from just before the hit. There is no dialog but it looks like Eisen and Stark were arguing about something (probably Stark's progress), hence Eisen telling Frieren "we parted in anger". Stark raised his fist at Eisen during the argument, and that was when Eisen hit him on reflex.
You need something to hug when watching this show. 😅
You're watching Frieren and SpyxFamily at the same time, talk about an emotional roller-coaster.
Stark's lightning strike is 👌
All u need a hug Flexi 🫣
They're not just flash backs. This story is practically a double timeline story. Almost every episode progresses events of both quests.
😅 I really love this show … and watching it with new viewers is becoming priceless.
12:41 also, 😂 FERN a contrary Magess of Mystery.
@T.elegram.Flexiejayanime I don’t telegram 🤷🏼
Yeaahhh....finally...tqvm😊
Stark: It seems to small now.
Barkeeper: Its seems that way because you're all grown up now
Narrator: It was in fact inflation that reduced the portion
It’s what the hero Himmel would’ve done
Rimmel was ''stupid'' near friends. But when he needs he knows how to be brave.
Stark is so strong, with a single swing of his axe he can create his own updraft to lift himself up in the air haha
In that context probably you could take it as "iron will" but stark means strong in german.